OK, "foodies," Listen up!

[grayhawkfh]

OK, so for years and years now, I've enjoyed cooking. Perhaps equally important, people have enjoyed what I've cooked. I harbor no illusions that I'm the next great chef - I am, at best, a talented amateur.

Besides, I don't need that kind of stress.

What I have come to realize more and more in recent years is that while the tools don't "make the dish", the right tools *do* increase your "bargaining position", if you will. To that end, my wife and I have slowly been upgrading/updating our tools and appliances.

However, I am not sure where to go next. I know I need a good set of knives; mine are ok at best. My question to you is this: What piece of equipment do you use that you find invaluable.

Suggestions on knives are good, but not the only thing that I'm looking for. The Good Eats DVD set, while fun to watch, is also not helpful. ;-)

I thank all of you in advance for your wealth of knowledge.

(x-posted to good_eats)

Comments

[betawriter.livejournal.com]

What a great comment. I love it when I read someone else espousing what I live by:

if you don't use it, don't need it
if you don't have space for it, don't need it, or need to swap it for something else

If joeyhemlock were answering this because he does most of the dinner cooking, he would say a good set of knives and a heavy enameled cast iron dutch oven.

Since I'm answering and do most of the canning and soup-making, I say a food mill and a stick blender.

[byronczimmer.livejournal.com]

It's an ideal, not a reality in our house.

That said, we've been slowly paring things out of the kitchen that we don't need. The unfortunate part is that it gets dry-docked in the basement for the always on the horizon, but never really a reality yard sale.

The day will come when I go crazy and just bin it all.